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Jean Kilbourne Killing USftly Analysis

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In her fourth installment of “Killing Us Softly”, Jean Kilbourne explores the image of women that American advertising industries have created in our society. Kilbourne breaks down the trends that advertisements constantly reinforce for women throughout the decades, and criticizes the impossible standards that women are shamed into trying to achieve. She allows us to take a deeper look at the exploitative, sexist, and misogynistic tendencies embedded in commercial culture, which is presented everywhere we look. Proceeding to emphasize that these ads have damaging effects in the real world, leading to violence against women, eating disorders, and low self esteem. Furthermore, Kilbourne acknowledges that although things have changed through the …show more content…

She is persistent on the fact that women are dehumanized and presented as objects for men. Continuously portrayed in submissive poses that subliminally tell women this is how you should be acting. A stark contrast to the strength and power that men embody in the media. Kilbourne constantly argues that women face far more day-to-day scrutiny in comparison to men. Women are told daily that they have to reach perfection in order to be desired, whereas men “don’t live in a world in which their bodies are routinely scrutinized, criticized, and judged.” (Kilbourne)
For women, it isn’t debatable that trends are constantly changing and impossible to keep up with. Ridiculous tabloid magazines with headlines such as “Boobs are back in style”, which suggest that a woman’s body parts are simply accessories. Again, reducing women down to nothing but an object, whose purpose is only to conform and please others. Kilbourne is adamant on mentioning that with the rapid fluctuation of beauty standards, women are left with a hopeless feeling of never being able to achieve “ideal” beauty. Even though achieving society’s expectations of perfection is literally

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